NoMethodError: undefined method `[]' for nil:NilClass during privisioning

[epoxsize]

Hello

recently i've tried to use chef-provisioning-vsphere module to clone VM's but it failed with following issue:

[2016-06-15T21:02:13+03:00] INFO: Processing chef_node[test-machine] action create (basic_chef_client::block line 57)

- update node test-machine at chefzero://localhost:8890
-   update run_list from ["rhel-web-dockerized::defaul]"] to ["rhel-web-dockerized::default"]
================================================================================
Error executing action `converge` on resource 'machine[web-01]'
================================================================================

NoMethodError
-------------
undefined method `[]' for nil:NilClass

Resource Declaration:
---------------------
# In /root/chef-repo/cookbooks/vsphere-prov/recipes/linux.rb

 34: machine "web-01" do
 35:   run_list ['rhel-web-dockerized::defaul']
 36: end

Compiled Resource:
------------------
# Declared in /root/chef-repo/cookbooks/vsphere-prov/recipes/linux.rb:34:in `from_file'

machine("web-01") do
  action [:converge]
  retries 0
  retry_delay 2
  default_guard_interpreter :default
  chef_server {:chef_server_url=>"chefzero://localhost:8890", :options=>{:client_name=>"user1", :signing_key_filename=>"/root/chef-repo/.chef/user.pem", :api_version=>"0"}}
  driver "vsphere://vrt-vc/sdk?use_ssl=true&insecure=true"
  machine_options {:bootstrap_options=>{:use_linked_clone=>false, :num_cpus=>1, :memory_mb=>2048, :network_name=>["cLAN1"], :datacenter=>"DC_Blade", :resource_pool=>"chef-respool", :template_name=>"rhel-72-minimal", :customization_spec=>{:ipsettings=>{:dnsServerList=>["8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4"]}, :domain=>"testdc.local", :ssh=>{:user=>"root", :password=>"password", :paranoid=>false}}}}
  declared_type :machine
  cookbook_name "@recipe_files"
  recipe_name "/root/chef-repo/cookbooks/vsphere-prov/recipes/linux.rb"
  run_list ["rhel-web-dockerized::default"]
end

[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] INFO: Running queued delayed notifications before re-raising exception

Running handlers:
[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] ERROR: Running exception handlers
Running handlers complete
[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] ERROR: Exception handlers complete
Chef Client failed. 0 resources updated in 16 seconds
[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] FATAL: Stacktrace dumped to /root/chef-repo/.chef/local-mode-cache/cache/chef-stacktrace.out
[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] FATAL: Please provide the contents of the stacktrace.out file if you file a bug report
[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] ERROR: machine[test-machine](@recipe_files::/root/chef-repo/cookbooks/vsphere-prov/recipes/linux.rb line 34) had an error: NoMethodError: undefined method `[]' for nil:NilClass
[2016-06-15T21:02:15+03:00] FATAL: Chef::Exceptions::ChildConvergeError: Chef run process exited unsuccessfully (exit code 1)

i've started to provision VM with following parameters:

chef_gem 'chef-provisioning-vsphere' do
action :install
compile_time true
end

require 'chef/provisioning/vsphere_driver'

with_vsphere_driver host: 'vrt-vc',
insecure: true,
user: 'domain\user',
password: 'password'

with_machine_options :bootstrap_options => {
use_linked_clone: false,
num_cpus: 1,
memory_mb: 2048,
network_name: ["cLAN1"],
datacenter: 'DC_Blade',
resource_pool: 'chef-respool',
template_name: 'rhel-72-minimal',
customization_spec: {
ipsettings: {
dnsServerList: ['8.8.8.8','8.8.4.4']
},
:domain => 'testdc.local'
}
:ssh => {
:user => 'root',
:password => 'password',
:paranoid => false,
}
}

machine "web-01" do
run_list ['rhel-web-dockerized::default']
end

Had someone seen that before ?

[colourmeamused]

Might have run into something similar today. Can you copy the stacktrace, the filename is in the logs:

"[2016-06-15T21:02:14+03:00] FATAL: Stacktrace dumped to /root/chef-repo/.chef/local-mode-cache/cache/chef-stacktrace.out"

Or, run chef-client with '-l debug'. That will tell us where the error is coming from.

[mwrock]

@colourmeamused do you have your stacktrace handy?

[dan-rose]

I too am having this problem - please find a link to a gist with the stack-trace. I am able to 'allocate' the VM's but they don't start in fact get no further in the process.

Any help would be gratefully received

############################################

cmd> chef-client -z -o "provisionvm::vmware_dev,windows_basicwebserver::cluster" -c .chef/knife.rb

chef_gem 'chef-provisioning-vsphere' do
action :install
compile_time true
end

require 'chef/provisioning/vsphere_driver'

with_vsphere_driver host: 'vcentre',
insecure: true,
user: 'user',
password: 'pass!'

with_machine_options bootstrap_options: {
use_linked_clone: true,
datacenter: 'DC',
host: 'host', # this is the cluster name
template_name: '2012r2_Template',
template_folder: 'Templates/Infrastructure',
vm_folder: 'New Builds',
network_name: ['network-upgrade/Production LAN'],
num_cpus: 2,
memory_mb: 4096,
datastore: 'MSA03_vd3_v03'
}

machine 'Test-SRV1' do
action 'allocate'
end

machine 'Test-SRV1' do
action 'converge'
recipe 'windows_basicwebserver::iis'
end

[mwrock]

Based on your stacktrace @dan-rose, you are missing :ssh options in your machine options. Have a look at the readme for example options. I realize you are provisioning windows and thus it seems odd to use :ssh. Under the covers the provisioner will use winrm on windows.

[dan-rose]

Thanks, that’s got it! The readme (that I’ve seen here - https://github.com/CenturyLinkCloud/chef-provisioning-vsphere/blob/master/README.md) doesn’t seem to specify what options are “required” for the process continue. I can appreciate that a user account is needed to further provision the machine after it boots, but sometimes we need it spelt out!

As a quick aside.. how could you tell I was missing that specific option for the stacktrace??? If it’s too long-winded to explain don’t worry :)

Dan

[mwrock]

I hear ya. The readme (and API) could really use some work. The line in the stacktrace is:

vsphere_helper.start_vm(vm, machine_options[:bootstrap_options][:ssh][:port])

so a undefined method[]' for nil:NilClass ` must have been because one of the option hashes was nil.

Also thats a horrible error and if it was easier for me to get releases out for this repo I'd add proper validation.

[dan-rose]

Thank you again - .. I am still new to Chef and Ruby.. I have gone back to look at the trace, and then looked in this location - vsphere_driver/driver.rb:434: - and can now see the line you mentioned. I doubt i would have known the answer even now i know where how to start looking :)

Thanks for taking the time to assist me.